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Who are we?

What do we believe?

As Humanists, we rely on reason and compassion, rather than supernatural revelation, to guide us in our quest to become more fully human as individuals and to cooperatively improve society and sustain the planet.

Last year we launched the UUHA Ambassador program. The purpose of the program is to strengthen the connection between the UUHA board and congregations. We hope to identify at least one person in each congregation to be an Ambassador. The role of the Ambassadors is to inform their congregations about UUHA and to increase membership in UUHA and thereby help strengthen humanism in Unitarian Universalism. Below you will find information about some of these Ambassadors

Eric Townson

We humanists love to talk and explain (and then sum up, before adding footnotes!) …but brevity can sometimes be better. The Journal of Religious Humanism challenges you to be creatively brief. If you were asked, upon entering an elevator: “Hey, what is Humanism, anyway?” And you had to reply before exiting, what would you say?

In one floor? A dozen words or fewer? Example: “Wonder, imagination, fulfillment, creativity, meaning: available to everyone – religious or not.” Marilyn Westfall

In four floors? No more than 50 words? Example: “Humanism tells me human life is … worthy of respect and care. Environmentalism tells me: to be human is to be part of an interdependent circle of all life. Environmental Humanism compels me to … reduce human practices that threaten the survival of life on earth.” Carol Hepokoski

President of the UUHA...believe it or not, that title opens a lot of doors! I wanted to share a little bit of what it means to serve as President of our organization, and especially to share some of the conversations I get to be part of in this role.

Although we are relatively small, the UUHA is *the* UU group dedicated to humanism, which means we are often invited to represent UU humanism in different settings. The Secular Coalition for America includes the UUHA as one of their member organizations, and I try to make as many member meetings and lobby events as possible (and if YOU want to be involved, please let me know!).

I also serve on the Steering Committee of the Humanist Special Collection at Meadville Lombard--not precisely because I am UUHA President, but I think the role didn't hurt! The Humanist Special Collection "houses archival materials that document the growth and impact of humanism within both Unitarian Universalism and the larger world," and the Steering Committee helps to set direction for the Collection and to work for funding so that the Collection can grow and continue to serve the movement. Read more about An Update from the UUHA Board President »

What's a humanist new year, you ask? Any year where you are part of connecting the human family and honoring human worth, of course. We are grateful for the end of year gifts we have received from many of you, investing in the work we share and in the future of humanism within the UUA and beyond it.

If you haven't made a gift and you'd like to, please click below or send a check. And you can give us an additional gift, by sharing with a friend why you support the UUHA and inviting them to become a member.

I love the holiday season—even with all the potential challenge for a humanist in sorting through family religious obligations, one’s own relationship to the Christmas story, or how to schedule both a HumanLight celebration and a solstice party on the same day. At the congregation that I serve, the Washington Ethical Society, we start the holiday season with a Stone Soup service and then have a totally over-the-top, elaborate, cookie-and-music-filled Winter Festival the second or third weekend in December. And when all that wraps up, I turn my attention to my family’s holiday plans!

Your own holiday season may be busy or calm, at home or away...but I hope that whatever it is, it gives you time to reflect on what is most important to you. And I hope that supporting UU humanists and spreading humanism far and wide are among those values!

We are thinking about that spreading part especially, even imagining (dare we say it?!) what humanist evangelism might look like. Keep an eye out for our next journal, which will feature “elevator pitches” about UU humanism and humanism in general. Read more about A Letter from UUHA President Amanda Poppei »

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About the UU Humanists

The Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association (formerly HUUmanists) is committed to Humanist principles of reason, compassion, and human fulfillment enumerated in the Humanist Manifestos and in the seven Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We seek (1) to promote a broad acceptance of Humanism in our society, particularly throughout the Unitarian Universalist Association and its congregations, and (2) to provide an active interface between Unitarian Universalists and the secular community.